Nonlinear Optics, 3rd Edition

Chapter 13 Ultrafast and Intense-Field Nonlinear Optics

13.1. Introduction

There is currently great interest in the physics of ultrashort laser pulses. Recent advances have led to the generation of laser pulses with durations of the order of 1 attosecond. Ultrashort pulses can be used to probe the properties of matter on extremely short time scales. Within the context of nonlinear optics, ultrashort laser pulses are of interest for two separate reasons. The first reason is that the nature of nonlinear optical interactions is often profoundly modified through the use of ultrashort laser pulses. The next two sections of this chapter treat various aspects of the resulting modifications of the nature of nonlinear optical interactions. The second ...